Broken pipe clamp



Aug. 16, 1938. H. M. ADAMS BROKEN PIPE CLAMP Filed April 20, 1937 2 Sheets-Sheet l n IIJ." n n LA@ @Q P By W y H orneys.

ug. 16, 1938. v

BROKEN PIPE CLAMP Filed April 2o, 1957 2 sheets-sheet 2 3] 32 4 In Venior.

H. .M Hdams @www HZ iozzgeys.

Patented Aug. 16, 1938 UNirso 'i `PTENT GFFECE BROKEN PIPE CLAW Application April 20, 1937, Serial No. 137,974

3 Claims.

This invention relates -to a clamp for broken or leaky pipes or similar conduits.

It frequently occurs that in pipes such as underground pipe lines and in like conduits, that leaks'develop in the pipe or the pipe becomes broken. Situations are frequent wherein it is difficult to remove and replace a section of pipe forming a part of the conduit. p

It is an object of the present invention to provide an improved clamp which may be applied to broken or leaky pipes or similar conduits for purposes of repair so that leakage at the leak or break` as the case may be, may be effectively prevented and the necessity of removing and replacing the'broken or leaking section of pipe may be obviated.

Another object of the invention is to provide a clamp for broken or leaky pipe and the like which is of relatively simple construction and which is highly durable and which may be easily andquickly applied to the pipe in such a manner asto effectively insure against continued leakage.

With'the foregoing and other objects in view, which will be made manifest in the following dethe'appended claims, reference is had to the accompanying drawings for an illustrative embodiment of the invention, wherein:

Figure l is a view in end elevation of one form of clamp-embodying the invention illustrating the clamp -as having beenv applied to a broken o-r `leaky pipe;

Fig.f2 is a view in side elevation of the same;

Fig. 3 is a sectional View taken substantially vupon the line 3 3 upon Fig. 2 in the direction indicated;

Fig. 4 is a sectional view taken substantially upon the line 4--4 upon Fig. 2 in the direction indicated;

Fig. 5 is a view in end elevation of one member forminga part rof the clamp as illustrated in Figs. `l` to"'4;

`Fig.`"6 is a view in elevation of the member shown in Fig. 5;

Fig; 7 is a view in end elevation of the opposed member forming the clamp illustrated in Figs. l to 4;;

Fig. 8 is a plan `view of the same; Fig. 9 isa view in side elevation of a simplified alternative form of clamp which may be em- ;ployedlupon pipe having small leaks or punctures; `and Fig.L 10 isla sectional view taken substantially upon the line I--IU upon Fig. 9 in the direction indicated.

taileddescription, and specically pointed out in Referring to the accompanying drawings wherein similar reference characters designate' similar parts throughout, and particularly to that form of clamp as illustrated in Figs. 1 to 8, inelusive, the improved clamp consists of two opposed members generally' designated at I Il and ll, respectively. Each member is formed of a material which has some degree of ilexibility and which is preferably resistant to corrosion. A suitable material that may be employed is relatively heavy sheet copper. Y

The clamp member I0 is formed to present a body l2 of general U-shaped form in cross section so as to at least partially encircle the pipe P to which it is to be applied. The center portions of the sides of this body are extended as indicated at i3 and I4, respectively, and the ends of these extended side center portions are reversely bent upon themselves as indicated at l5 and I6. respectively, to form loops or knuckles I1 and I8. Their ends are riveted or otherwise attached, such as for example by spot welding as indicated at I9. The loops or knuckles I'I and I8 have Openings Zt formed therethrough and are designed to receive draw bars 2| and 22 which are cylindrical in form and which are rotatable within the loops or knuckles. The 'draw bars 2| and 22 have aligned apertures 23 and 2li formed therein which are designed to receive draw bolts 25 and 26 so that when the clamp member Il] is applied around the pipe P', on tightening up nuts 2l against washers 28, the draw bars 2l and 22 can be drawn toward each other. As the draw bars are rotatable within their respective loops or knuckles and to that vextent `are floated in the knuckles,` these draw bars `may accommodate themselves to Whatever position is required on tightening up the draw bolts 25 and'2.

The body of the clamp member I El near its ends has its sides extended to a less degree than the side center portions I4. The sides at the ends of the body are similarlyV revesely bent'to form knuckles or loops 28,30, 3|, and 32, and the re- `versely bent portions are similarly fastened as by rivets or the equivalent indicated at 33. These corner or end knuckles or loops have openings 34 formed therein and are designed to receive 'draw bars 35 and 3G. f

While it is possible to make a construction with aseparate draw bar for each of the knuckles 29, 30, 3l, and 32, I prefer to have a single draw bar extended through both knuckles 29 and 3| and another single draw bar extend through both knuckles 30 and 32. These draw bars are apertured as indicated at 31 to receive draw bolts 38, 39, 40, and 4l which are tightened by means of nuts 42 against washers 43.

The clamp member` l is similarly formed of sheet copper or the equivalent and presents a narrow body portion 44 which is designed to be applied to the opposite side of pipe P from clamp member l and to underlie knuckles ll and i8. At the ends of this clamp member there are formed loops or knuckles 45, ll, lll', and 48 formed by reversely bending the extended end portions of the sides of the body and riveting them as indicated at 49. These knuckles receive draw bars 50 and 5l corresponding to draw bars and 38 and have apertures formed therein corresponding to apertures 3l for the reception of the draw bolts 38, 3B, 40, and 4i. The draw bars 50 and 5l are rotatable and to that extent are floating in their loops or knuckles.

Application of the improved clamp and its advantages are as follows: Assuming that the pipe P is either broken or is punctured as indicated, a

layer of gasket material, such as for example a sheet of flexible soft rubber indicated at 53 is first wrapped around the pipe so as to cover the break or puncture. Clamp member l i is then applied over this wrapped layer of rubber against one side of the pipe and has its draw bars 5t and 5| inserted in its loops or knuckles. Clamp member I0 is then applied around the opposite side of the pipe and in so doing the extended center side portions I3 and i4 are sprung apart. These portions are then caused to contract and to overlie the narrow center body 44 of clamp member Il. The draw bolts 25 and 26 are then inserted through the draw bars 2l and 22 and are tightened up. Draw bars and 5| are thus arranged in opposition to draw bars 35 and 36. The draw bolts 38, 39, 40, and 4| are inserted through the opposed draw bars and are tightened up by means of their nuts 42.

During these tightening operations the ilexibility of the clamp members enables them to conform to the shape of the pipe and the rotation of the draw bars in their respective loops or knuckles enables the draw bars to accommodate themselves to whatever position is required by the tightening of the draw bolts.

The clamp thus constructed, when applied over the wrapped layer of rubber 53, would serve to prevent leakage from the pipe and may be allowed to remain as a permanent installation on the broken or punctured pipe, thus obviating the necessity of removing and replacing a section of pipe in the conduit.

The alternative form of construction as illustrated in Figs. 9 and 10 conforms generally to the center of clamp member I0. It consists of a band of flexible sheet metal, such as for example sheet copper indicated at 55, which is adapted to at least partially encircle the pipe P. Its ends are reversely bent upon themselves to form loops or knuckles 56 and 51, the ends being fastened as by rivets or welding. The loops or knuckles have openings 58 and 59 therein and receive draw bars 6U and 6| which are rotatable within the knuckles. A draw bolt 62 extends through apertures in the draw bars arranged opposite the openings 58 and 59 and is tightened by means of nut 63 against the washer 54. This type of clamp may be employed under circumstances where the puncture is small or where the pipe is conveying fluids under low pressures. A layer of rubber indicated at 65, is applied to the pipe over the puncture or break as the case may be and the clamp is spread apart sufficiently to enable its being applied over the pipe. The draw bolt 62 is then inserted through the apertures in the draw bars and is tightened and during the tightening the draw bars rotate within their respective knuckles sufficiently to accommodate themselves to the positions required on tightening.

From the above described constructions it will be appreciated that an improved clamp for broken or punctured pipe is provided which is of relatively simple construction and which can be easily manufactured and installed. As the bodt7 of the clamp is formed of flexible material it may flex and conform itself to the pipe. On tightening the draw bolts, the draw bars will oat or rotate within their respective knuckles so that v the clamp can be severely tightened without setting up in the body of the clamp undesirable or destructive stresses such as for example bending moments.

Various changes may be made in the details of construction without departing from the spirit or scope of the invention as dened by the appended claims.

I claim:

l.. A clamp for broken or leaky pipe and the like comprising two opposed clamping members having some degree of flexibility, one member having a body the center portions of the sides of which are extended so as to largely encircle a pipe and the end portions of the sides of which are not so far extended, the other member having a body adapted to underlie the center portions of the sides of the first member and end portions arranged in opposition to the end portions of the sides of the rst member, means for drawing the center portions of the sides of the rst member together and means for drawing the end portions of the members which are opposed together.

2. A clamp for broken or leaky pipe and the like comprising two opposed clamping members having some degree of flexibility, one member having a body the center portions of the sides of which are extended so as to largely encircle a pipe and the end portions of the sides of which are not so far extended, the other member having a body adapted to underlie the center portions of the sides of the first member and end portions arranged in opposition to the end portions of the sides of the first member, bars connecting the end portions of each member on each side thereof, means for drawing the opposed bars toward each other, and means for drawing the center portions of the sides of the first member together.

3. A clamp for broken or leaky pipe and the like comprising two opposed clamping members having some degree of exibility, one member having a body the center portions of the sides of which are extended so as to largely encircle a pipe and the end portions of the sides of which are not so far extended, the other member having a body adapted to underlie the center portions of the sides of the rst member and end portions arranged in opposition to the end portions of the sides of the first member, bars rotatably mounted on the center portions of the sides of the first member, draw bolts extending through said bars for drawing them toward each other, draw bars rotatably mounted upon the end portions of the sides of each member and draw bolts extending through the latter draw bars which are opposed for drawing them toward each other.

HENRY M. ADAMS. 

